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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Lawmakers co-sponsor bill to combat human trafficking

Naugatuck Valley
female legislators were joined by all of their female colleagues in an
unprecedented show of bipartisan cooperation.

State Representatives Linda M.
Gentile, Theresa Conroy and Themis Klarides
joined with 54 of their female colleagues in co-sponsoring legislation
to combat human trafficking.

HB 5666 An Act Concerning the Forfeiture of Moneys and Property
Related to Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking, combined two other
bills on the same topic, HB 6696 and SB 1158. The unanimous
consensus and relative ease with which the bill made
it through both chambers bespeaks a unilateral intolerance for the
crime of trafficking in humans.

“Since females
of any age are the predominant targets of this terrible crime, it just
made perfect sense for this issue to be a priority of the women’s
caucus,” said Gentile, D-Ansonia. "Coming together and working with my colleagues on both sides of the
aisle to achieve one common goal demonstrates that although we have our
differences, the women in our legislature are not paralyzed by partisan
politics.”

Among its provisions, HB 5666 will:

• Increase criminal penalties for persons patronizing a prostitute under the age of 18;

• Require the forfeiture of criminal assets derived from commercial sexual exploitation of a minor;

•
Add funds and property related to prostitution and 3rd degree promoting
prostitution to the types of property subject to forfeiture as tainted
funds and property related to sexual
exploitation and human trafficking;

• Require public awareness and education about services for human trafficking victims;

• Direct the Trafficking in Persons Council to identify further
deficiencies in general statutes and report to the Judiciary Committee
by 1/2014.

Conroy, D-Seymour, said, “Prostitution is not a victimless crime. Every year
women and children are forced into the meat grinder that is the sex
industry. Together we passed legislation
that targets those that profit from prostitution and hits them in the
wallet.”

“Human trafficking is a disturbing and, sadly, lucrative industry that targets our most vulnerable citizens,” saidKlarides, Deputy House Republican Leader. “I’m proud we were
able to come together and strengthen penalties for the sick individuals
who patronize and perpetuate the sex trade.”

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